why i don't think they will ever put michelle kwan into any hof

why-so called eligibility-sarah didn't give it up-she just didn't skate. however because michelle is chinese, and usfsa federation, past skaters don't like her they will use the "eligibilty" to keep her out of it despite fulfiling every other way.not to mention her race.
why that makes me upset is they went out of their ways to bend the rules for tara to get to worlds, went out of their to help nicole behind scenes with her issues, they went out of their to help belbin get into olympics with citizenship, helped sasha get two gp events, bascially didn't have to skate all that way for olympics.

giving people money through funding isn't the same because most skaters has got some .
but only a few has gotten , preferential treatment.

what is being said done behind scenes is important-like the tribute most americans people associated michelle to past skaters, yet they clearly for whatever reason they chose kept her off, when most people wanted to see her on that one.

why-so called eligibility-sarah didn't give it up-she just didn't skate. however because michelle is chinese, and usfsa federation, past skaters don't like her they will use the "eligibilty" to keep her out of it despite fulfiling every other way.not to mention her race.
why that makes me upset is they went out of their ways to bend the rules for tara to get to worlds, went out of their to help nicole behind scenes with her issues, they went out of their to help belbin get into olympics with citizenship, helped sasha get two gp events, bascially didn't have to skate all that way for olympics.

giving people money through funding isn't the same because most skaters has got some .
but only a few has gotten , preferential treatment.

what is being said done behind scenes is important-like the tribute most americans people associated michelle to past skaters, yet they clearly for whatever reason they chose kept her off, when most people wanted to see her on that one.

Fairly, I know that you worry about this, but I can't imagine that you are right in this assumption, for so many reasons. First and foremost, Michelle IS American skating. She's our most decorated female skater ever, she's beloved in the skating world and also by people who wouldn't know another skater if they fell over one, and her talent to move audiences as well as to win medals has been unparalleled. Just look--she's even made it irrelevant that she didn't win an Olympic Gold Medal. (I'm sure there are people in this country who think she actually did win one--and both of the ladies who beat her were themselves Americans!)

Second, though there certainly has been racism in the United States, I think at this point it's irrelevant in skating, and it certainly doesn't apply to Asian-American skaters. In fact, especially in ladies' singles, a champion skater is almost more likely to be of Asian descent than otherwise. And out in the international scene, Asia is booming in terms of its contributions to skating. There's a very real chance that there could be an Asian sweep of both men's and ladies' medals in this year's Worlds. And that's a good thing! There are more people coming to the feast of figure skating than ever before. It's not just Russians, Germans, and the latest American ice queen. People who are racists in that direction have probably left skating and gone to find some other sport...maybe equestrianism or Nordic skiing. (Not to criticize those sports in any way.)

If skating suffers from any kind of racial gap, it's in the lack of African-American and Latino/Latina skaters. Part of this is certainly economics: it's tremendously costly to keep a kid in skating until he/she becomes so good that a sponsor will help out. Part of it is cultural; skating isn't a sport that's boffo in Black and Hispanic communities...yet. (I always hope for change!)

But I can't imagine any scenario in which Michelle Kwan wouldn't be rewarded for her magnificent achievements in skating. Whatever distress is causing you to fear that possibility, I wish you could lay that aside. There is no line of skaters in this country in which Kwan would not be in first place, for any reason whatsoever.

I have to say I'm with Olympia on this. Michelle is the most beloved skater in the US.

There is plenty of unexamined rasicm in the US, but I don't seeing it playing a role is the judging or promotion of skating within the USFSA. Even harder for me to see is a pro Japanese, anti Chinese and anti Korean bias. Americans aren't just informed enough on (or, sadly, interested enough in) international history to pick up on the cultural strains between different Asian countries. Maybe I'm naive and see the world as I think it should be, but I don't think so in this case.

PolymerBob's point is an excellent one. I think '06 Olys would be the earliest you could call her retired, since she certainly had trained to compete there. But she also talked about competing in the '10 Olys. Maybe she's not still not considered "retired"? I'm sure there are people at the USFSA who have thought all about this and are waiting to make a big fuss. I think she won her 1st Nat'ls & WC in '96. Maybe in 2016, we'll see her inducted at the 20th anniversary.

I agree with Lavender. Michell is one of the most loved athlete in the US. However, I just want to mention that I saw a lot of comments like" Now, I think I saw real intention of USA" in some of the Japanese web sites when Flatt edged out Mirai last year in US nationals. This year, there was also disproportionately large media coverage for Cizny and Flatt than Mirai. Well, I maybe too sensitive, because I am Japanese living in US.

I agree with Lavender. Michell is one of the most loved athlete in the US. However, I just want to mention that I saw a lot of comments like" Now, I think I saw real intention of USA" in some of the Japanese web sites when Flatt edged out Mirai last year in US nationals. This year, there was also disproportionately large media coverage for Cizny and Flatt than Mirai. Well, I maybe too sensitive, because I am Japanese living in US.

I wonder if Mirai is getting any publicity and media coverage in Japan. I remember that the Japanese media did used to pay attention to her, now I am not sure anymore.

But she doesn't need it, Michelle is more famous than hof, because for hof I had to google it to see what it was. I didnt google Michelle

Seriously. How many people know that there is a such a thing as the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, or who was elected to it last year?

Michelle can have her own hall of fame, with only her in it. The MKHOF (pronounced "Em=cough").

Just like they used to have an annual trophy for the most popular U.S. skater, but after seven years or so they said, who are we kidding, let's just call it the Michelle Kwan trophy and be done with it.

They can't put her in the HOF until she formally announces her retirement, and as long as there are more Winter Olympics, she won't officially retire. Clearly, the only solution is to remove figure skating from the Olympics.

Aside from the point but Michelle is often referred to as the most decorated U.S skater. Isnt Carol Hess with 5 World titles in a row, Olympic Gold, and Olympic Silver more "decorated" (not saying she is a better skater but she has the best achievements IMO).

Aside from the point but Michelle is often referred to as the most decorated U.S skater. Isnt Carol Hess with 5 World titles in a row, Olympic Gold, and Olympic Silver more "decorated" (not saying she is a better skater but she has the best achievements IMO).

I think they are using the word "decorated" to mean "weighted down with hardware." Michelle has something like 40 titles of one sort or another, each with it's accompanying "decoration."

Of course there are many more figure skating competitions now than in Carol Heiss' day.

I think because Michelle ties Carol with world championships and has a record-setting (tied with Maribel Vinson Owen) nine U.S. titles, plus two Olympic medals, plus all the other stuff, the Skating Powers (don't know who they are, so don't ask!) have given Michelle that designation. Heiss wins out in terms of medal color in the Olympics, of course, but in all other respects Michelle comes out on top.

One could argue it endlessly, I suppose. But anyway, Michelle and Carol were both splendid skaters and a credit to their country--on that we can all agree.